Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and location of new fire stations his Department has funded in the past five years; the cost of each; the breakdown of financial contributions either local or departmental in each case; the overall size of each fire station and the number of bays for fire appliances each can accommodate; if the original proposed size and costs were changed in any way by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13532/05]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service is a matter for the individual local fire authorities in accordance with section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities in the active provision of a fire service through a range of functions, including capital funding assistance towards the cost of the provision of fire stations.

In the case of new fire stations, the Department examines proposals in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector, to ensure that over elaborate design and or the specification of standards which exceed the minimum necessary to achieve a satisfactory and cost effective end product are avoided. Where appropriate, the Department requests the authorities to review their proposals and may cap the level of grant for a project. In practice the Department frequently asks fire authorities to pursue savings or reduction in costs.

The table sets out the position in respect of projects completed in the period 2000-04. The estimated final cost of the projects is based on the most recent information available from the local fire authorities. Final costs and appropriate levels of grant aid are determined only when detailed final accounts have been submitted and examined by the Department.